The void split apart, radiant light rain grew increasingly dense, enveloping Shi Hao in its brilliance.
The Divine Striking Stone and the Imperial Butterfly were stunned—such a spectacle was truly miraculous. Beams of light shot forth one after another, as if witnessing someone ascending to immortality.
Moreover, this phenomenon intensified further. By the end, one could see crystalline petals swirling around Shi Hao, even emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance.
This was an astonishing vision!
Those petals descended from the cracks in the void, translucent and gleaming, exuding an unparalleled fragrance, growing ever more serene and sacred, as if connected to the immortal realm.
The Divine Striking Stone, dumbfounded, snapped at one of the petals, trying to discern whether it was real or merely condensed light.
But in the end, it couldn’t tell. These things were peculiar—moments later, they vanished from its mouth.
Shi Hao remained motionless, his eyes closed as he sat cross-legged, silently comprehending and carefully refining himself with the Sage Wood’s baptism. This was a strange and intricate process, not something that could be achieved overnight.
This tempering required repetition, spanning a long time, even multiple baptisms before he could finally step into that realm.
The Sacred Sacrifice was eerie and arduous.
With Shi Hao’s true Great Perfection realm and his innate talent, he could already ascend to the Heavenly Deity rank if he wished.
But he had no intention of doing so. He wanted to undergo the Sacred Sacrifice, taking that difficult yet utterly necessary divine step!
**Boom!**
A long river spanned the sky, countless stars descended, swirling in place—a scene indescribably bizarre, made even more astonishing by the vision of ascending immortals.
This process lasted for several days. Shi Hao’s flesh was nourished, his Dao principles tempered, his soul forged. The Sage Wood resonated with heaven and earth, its light truly miraculous, aiding him in the Sacred Sacrifice.
Rumors claimed that the Sage Wood was actually a plant that had transformed from the decayed bones of an immortal from the previous era.
Of course, this was merely legend—how could immortal bones rot?
Others said the Sage Wood wasn’t native to this realm at all, but came from a mysterious ancient world, possessing wondrous effects. Hence, it was rare and precious, highly valued by the world.
Regardless, its miraculous efficacy was undeniable.
Five days later, Shi Hao opened his eyes. This round of Sacred Sacrifice had temporarily concluded.
His mind and body were clear and empty as he silently assessed his condition. His physique was flawless, his accumulation sufficient—was it time to break through?
In the end, Shi Hao shook his head. He couldn’t break through on the first attempt. He needed further accumulation, more repetitions—because he sought perfection!
Moreover, he felt his cultivation speed was already astonishing. At just twenty years old, he was undergoing the Sacred Sacrifice, about to enter a realm comparable to Heavenly Deities. Such an achievement was rare throughout history.
In fact, Shi Hao suspected he might have broken a record!
If this were to spread, it would undoubtedly cause an uproar.
In truth, there was no need for it to spread—undercurrents were already stirring. The reason many sects sought to eliminate him was precisely this: his growth was simply too rapid!
Whether it was Ning Chuan or the Ten Crown King, though formidable, they had accumulated enough, having long understood the path they must walk. Thus, when they unleashed themselves, they advanced by leaps and bounds.
Shi Hao was different. Rising in a single lifetime, he had reaped such immense Dao fruits, leaving even sect masters dumbfounded, some secretly gasping in shock!
To many, Shi Hao—the “Desolate One”—was extraordinary!
Even sect masters who viewed him favorably privately praised him as unique, a rarity through the ages!
Some even claimed that with his talent, as long as he survived, it was foreseeable that he would one day attain the supreme position of Heavenly Emperor.
Of course, others refuted this, arguing that there had been similarly monstrous geniuses in ancient times who erupted fiercely at first, only to fade into mediocrity later.
Some cited examples of such prodigies who failed to live long, perishing prematurely in their early stages.
Others believed that Ning Chuan and his peers were no weaker than Shi Hao—they had merely sealed themselves, enduring multiple lifetimes to compete for the greatest fortune in this era. Otherwise, they would have long dominated the Three Thousand Provinces, becoming the most terrifying overlords of the Upper Realm!
After silently contemplating for two days, just as Shi Hao was about to enter seclusion again, the fissures in the nearby marshland closed, the radiant light vanished, and the fluctuations dissipated.
“Not good, we must leave!” the Divine Striking Stone warned.
Shi Hao rose swiftly, taking them away.
Sure enough, before long, rustling sounds echoed as the violet martens from the underground caverns surged forth, their crimson eyes scanning their surroundings.
Shi Hao didn’t leave entirely. He waited for the next opportunity, sensing that this forbidden land followed a pattern—the formation would periodically release runes.
“Desolate One, I know you’re cultivating here. Come forth and accept your punishment!”
Days later, a thunderous voice resounded, shaking the ancient land.
“Descendant of the Sinful Blood, if you wish to live, come and confess your crimes!”
Outside, Heavenly Deities had arrived, standing at the edge of the forbidden land, coldly gazing inward, their divine voices shaking the void.
Clearly, this was a terrifying sound-based technique. If Shi Hao were in meditation or cultivation, he would suffer severe interference—one misstep, and he could fall into qi deviation, suffering catastrophic damage!
The two Heavenly Deities’ methods were ruthless. Though merely transmitting their voices, it was absolutely lethal!
Shi Hao’s eyes turned icy, but he didn’t respond, hiding deep within the forbidden land.
**Boom!**
Suddenly, one of the Heavenly Deities struck, uprooting a massive mountain, refining it into a boulder, and hurling it toward the heart of the forbidden land.
This was a Heavenly Deity from the Immortal Palace, his aura terrifying, his methods brutal. A single strike like this could annihilate a sacred land. Without exception, not only living beings but even divine roots like the Sage Wood would be reduced to ashes.
He was utterly decisive. Whether Shi Hao was inside or not, even if it meant destroying the Sage Wood—a treasure of heaven and earth—he would attack!
This was a root-and-branch extermination, his desire to kill Shi Hao overwhelming.
**Boom!**
Laws spread, formation patterns lit up. The reason this ancient land was a forbidden zone was due to the remnants of an ancient formation. Thus, his attack proved ineffective.
**Boom!**
The boulder exploded, ground into dust.
However, the creatures dwelling in the forbidden land were roused. Three violet martens transformed into streaks of purple light, charging outward with furious roars, their crimson eyes locked onto the two Heavenly Deities.
Simultaneously, Shi Hao’s gaze turned icy. He took action, ordering the Divine Striking Stone to deploy a formation composed of array banners.
Shi Hao used a secret technique to silently send the banners into the underground cavern.
The formation had already begun operating, but it hadn’t been triggered yet—it needed time.
Without looking back, Shi Hao retreated swiftly, though not leaving the forbidden land, instead lying low elsewhere.
Moments later, an earth-shaking explosion erupted from the cavern. The formation banners detonated, driving the already frenzied violet martens into utter madness.
Especially the elder marten at the sect master level—awakened by the blast, its crimson eyes snapped open, causing the earth to tremble.
It sensed the presence of its descendants and detected the Heavenly Deities in battle.
In the next instant, it transformed into a streak of violet light, charging toward the edge of the forbidden land. Its shriek split the heavens, its terrifying aura overwhelming.
“Retreat, now!”
The two Heavenly Deities paled, using secret techniques to tear through the void and flee.
**Boom!**
The elder marten’s claw descended, violet light flooding the void.
“Ah—!”
One of the Heavenly Deities screamed as half his body was torn apart by the violet light, grievously wounded.
The Immortal Palace’s Heavenly Deity, truly extraordinary, remained unharmed. Grabbing his companion, he traversed the void and vanished.
Even without mortal danger, the two Heavenly Deities were furious. Given their status, to encounter such peril after entering the Immortal Ancient was unacceptable!
The Immortal Palace’s Heavenly Deity’s expression was icy. He suspected the elder marten hadn’t emerged earlier—it must have been lured out by someone.
“The Desolate One must be inside. He must die!” he said coldly.
Half a month later, the marshland in the forbidden land split open again, radiant light blooming, strange undulations sweeping through the ancient land. All living creatures hid once more.
Holding the Myriad Spirit Diagram, Shi Hao entered the grove formed by the Sage Wood and began seclusion anew.
This was an opportunity—dangerous, but one he had to seize!
This time, his Sacred Sacrifice yielded new insights. Hundreds of ancient trees glowed, their leaves shifting from golden to silver-white, then emerald-green—multicolored and resplendent, enveloping him in holy radiance.
This was a baptism of the soul, a tempering of sacred bones—the forging of a Divine King!
Seizing the moment, Shi Hao channeled this rule power, using divine light to scour his soul and bones, refining himself from head to toe, inside and out.
His soul grew increasingly translucent, minor imperfections burned away. His flesh became more perfect, his blood energy surging like a celestial river.
**Boom!**
Around him, light rain danced, and the void split open—a mysterious ancient path appeared, leading to an eternal unknown.
“Eh? It really appeared?!” the Divine Striking Stone exclaimed.
In ancient times, such peerless geniuses had also witnessed this path during their Sacred Sacrifice. Those who stepped onto it vanished, never to return.
Shi Hao opened his eyes, staring at the path in silence, sensing and pondering deeply.
At this moment, he grew even more sacred. Immortal-ascension light radiated from his body as the ancient path extended before him, beckoning him inward.
Meanwhile, outside the forbidden land, eight or nine Heavenly Deities had gathered, their auras mighty, their divine power surging.
“Are we truly going to eliminate the Desolate One? This youth is extraordinary. With those mysterious visitors from the Three Thousand Provinces—so powerful they suppress even us—wouldn’t it be better to have someone as exceptional as him oppose them?” one argued.
“Hmph, Ning Chuan alone is enough to replace the Desolate One!” another sneered.
“The Desolate One need not live. Execute him directly,” the Netherworld’s Heavenly Deity said coldly, producing a bone horn and blowing into it.
**Woo—**
Demonic sound split the heavens, unsettling even Heavenly Deities, forcing them to circulate their arts to resist—let alone others!
“This is a Netherworld treasure, capable of inducing qi deviation. A fine plan, brother,” the Demon Sunflower Garden’s Heavenly Deity praised, producing a small drum. “Allow me to assist.”
**Thud—thud—**
The drumbeats shook the heavens, causing blood to boil and bodies to nearly rupture.
Without a doubt, if someone were in seclusion, such an assault could easily lead to disaster—perhaps even sudden death!
The Immortal Palace’s Heavenly Deity chuckled darkly, activating a secret treasure to unleash a dreadful divine sound, disrupting the void, intending to make Shi Hao perish violently.
Deep in the forbidden land, Shi Hao’s expression darkened. His mind was indeed impacted.
“Do they truly think I’m so easy to kill?” he muttered coldly.
Three strands of immortal qi coiled around him, shielding him. His mind and body remained calm, resisting the demonic sound without fatal consequences.
A long time later, as the dreadful sound weakened, he whispered, “Once I emerge, I’ll slaughter every last one of you!”
Shi Hao stood, taking a step forward—onto that mysterious ancient path.
“Kid, you… you’re going in?!” the Divine Striking Stone gasped.
“I’ll see where it leads!” Shi Hao declared, his tone resolute. He would uncover its secrets.
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